Tampa man accused of cutting up dog for food

A Tampa man has been charged with animal cruelty after police say he strangled a family dog, then cut up its body parts and stored it in the freezer for future meals.

The Associated Press

TAMPA — A Tampa man has been charged with animal cruelty after police say he strangled a family dog, then cut up its body parts and stored it in the freezer for future meals.

A police statement says 25-year-old Elliot Huggins was arrested Friday morning on the animal cruelty charge. It was not immediately clear if he has an attorney and there wasn't a working phone number listed for Huggins.

Police say once Huggins strangled the young dog, he cut it up into quarters and stored it in the freezer for future meals. A family member called police late Thursday and when officers arrived, they found the dog's ribs cooked in a pot on the stove. The dog's head was in the garbage.